Kristin Hill Taylor

Seeking God as the Author of Every Story

  • Home
  • About
  • Books
    • Peace in the Process
    • Bringing Home More Than Groceries
  • Contact

Celebrating our not-perfect marriage

February 7, 2017 by Kristin 3 Comments

When I met Greg 19 years ago (TODAY, officially!), I didn’t think about what our marriage would be like. We dated throughout college and then got married 15 months after I graduated from college, the summer before his last year of law school. I figured our marriage would be good – I mean, what else would I think heading into this lifelong commitment?

Just thinking and expecting things to be one way isn’t enough.

Our hardest years of marriage in the 14 ½ years we’ve been husband and wife came early on. I didn’t understand why he did things the way he did and he didn’t understand my (over) reactions. I didn’t like all the piles of paper he like to sit beside his side of the bed and on the kitchen counter. I wanted to talk and process things with him while he wanted to talk once he had things sorted in his head. We’re both extroverts – but I’m lesser so according to every personality test I’ve ever taken. He didn’t understand how I could go and go but then need to stop.

In “No More Perfect Marriages,” Jill and Mark Savage open up their own story to show readers that God made each of us unique with our personalities and preferences, yet He unifies couples as one. I found such freedom in that and reflected on my own marriage.

“There are no perfect marriages, but there is a God who wants to ‘perfect’ us through this thing called marriage. When that happens, we get to experience the freedom of being real together.”

– From “No More Perfect Marriages”

This is the kind of book I wish I’d had earlier in my marriage. And, of course, even after more than 14 years, we can still learn from each other and about each other as we’re working on our relationship together.

“No More Perfect Marriages” is the third in a series from Jill Savage, who also has written “No More Perfect Moms” (2013) and “No More Perfect Kids” (2014). There is the obvious theme of letting go of perfection that runs among them all, but each one offers practical insights to the given topic. They’re all worth reading and applying to your life.

About the book

In “No More Perfect Marriages,” the Savages speak honestly about their struggles, how they came back from betrayal, and the principles keeping their marriage strong. In their warm, honest, personable style, Jill and Mark discuss how the Perfection Infection invades a marriage – even a good marriage; how to detect and correct the slow fades; how to set and communicate realistic expectations; what to do if your spouse just won’t change; how to guard your marriage from the Perfection Infection for good.

“No More Perfect Marriages” is a 272-page paperback published by Moody Publishers (Feb. 2017).

About the authors

Mark and Jill Savage are passionate about encouraging, educating, and equipping families. After serving in church ministry for 20 years, the Savages are meeting the needs of families as authors and speakers through Hearts at Home, a ministry to moms she founded in 1994. The parents of five adult children and grandparents of three, the Savages make their home in central Illinois.

*****

I received an advanced PDF copy of this book to review in exchange for being on the launch team and sharing about this book. These opinions are my own – and I’m going to gift it to some of the people I know getting married this year.

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Filed Under: books Tagged With: Greg, marriage, review

Comments

  1. Kathy says

    February 8, 2017 at 2:08 pm

    This books sounds like one I would like to read and apply the principles to strengthen my marriage. Your insights from the book help me realize that I must find more ways to lower my expectations and be open to the suggestions my husband requests.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      February 8, 2017 at 4:47 pm

      You’re not alone in needing to lower expectations. I hope you get to read the book and find it as encouraging as I did. Thanks for being here, Kathy!

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. The Big Picture says:
    February 8, 2017 at 6:00 am

    […] Well, yes, I did use quotes from a marriage book in a post on parenting. But that’s how it going around here – all the things are mashed together in my mind and I’m grateful for wisdom in these pages of this new book from Mark & Jill Savage. “No More Perfect Marriages” may aim to help marriages, and it does that well, but it’s helping this momma too. I officially reviewed the book here. […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Let’s Connect

  • Bloglovin
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • RSS
  • Twitter

About Me

Telling stories is my therapy and I love sharing them with friends on my porch.

The main characters in my stories are my entrepreneur husband, our high school girl who never forgets, our middle school boy who has no fear, and our joy-filled first-grade girl. As we live out our stories, we seek God as the author of them all.

Learn more about my story here.

Subscribe for Updates

Recent Posts

  • All the places she’ll go
  • Cruising for Spring Break
  • How to take care of yourself
  • How to recreate favorite foods
  • How to enjoy motherhood

Join the Conversation

Join the Conversation

On Instagram

Hello, #84daysofsummer! ☀️ #TeamTaylor #girl Hello, #84daysofsummer! ☀️ 

#TeamTaylor #girlmom #boymom #momlife #reallife #summerisbest #siblinglove #countryliving #poolpeople #getoutside
First of all, who else has read this book? The plo First of all, who else has read this book? The plot was promising as a thriller and the setting really worked. There were some good twists, and then there were ridiculous twists. I skimmed the end only because I wanted it to make sense. And it didn’t. It was too weird for me. 

But this made me wonder: how do we know if a book is going to be weird, contain elements we don’t like, or go places that don’t make sense? I don’t like to read much about a book before I read the book. Usually, I do a better job of picking books for myself. 

#KHTreads #bookstagram #booklover #donotrecommend #bookofthemonth @bookofthemonth
I needed this low-key weekend that was pleasant we I needed this low-key weekend that was pleasant weather, a mixture of productivity and rest, and had plenty of wide-open space to enjoy our property and each other. 

#weekending #TeamTaylor #poolpeople #countryliving #favoritethings #choosingJOY #maydays
And that’s a wrap on soccer season! I love watch And that’s a wrap on soccer season! I love watching them both play. 

#soccermom #weekending #springtime #momlife #girlmom #boymom
On Mothers Day, I wanted to sit by the pool with a On Mothers Day, I wanted to sit by the pool with a book, but I didn’t know what I wanted to read. Whenever I have indecision about books, picking up a thriller usually helps because of the story’s pace. 

“The Only Survivors” worked well because there was a lot happening! Lots of creepy, mysterious moments. Only so many people could be guilty of infiltrating a small group who had lots of secrets! 

I loved the timeline of this one. The back story about an accident was told in seven one-hour segments. The present mystery was told in seven days. 

#KHTreads #bookstagram #booklover #latergram #bookofthemonth @bookofthemonth #poolpeople #mothersday
Y’all we are very ready for summer. ☀️ And Y’all we are very ready for summer. ☀️ 

And when I say summer, I mean we are ready to shake up the routine, mentally regroup, turn off the alarms, establish some new habits, soak in the sun, and catch up with friends we’ve been crossing paths with too quickly. 

I want to savor the #84daysofsummer and I want to embrace this new season. And it’s almost time. Three more days of school. (Deep breaths.) 

Meanwhile, I’m going to keep collecting the moments — the hard, hurried, happy, and heartfelt. The seasons do change, but this is the life we are living. 

“The moments you collect may not be loud or flashy. They might be quiet or covered or a far-off view you were lucky to catch. But this I know to be true: A moment savored says to your soul, ‘You have lived something beautiful.’ And it keeps you buoyed. It sustains you when you’re running empty. It lifts you up and carries you forward.” — Joanna Gaines in @magnolia summer 2023 journal issue no. 27 

#momlife #reallife #momconfessions #livingfaithfully #summerisbest #teenagedriver #choosingJOY
I’ve read quite a few World War II novels, but t I’ve read quite a few World War II novels, but this one by Soraya M. Lane focused on three nurses, their friendships, and how the war changed their lives. It’s a hard story, but it’s full of love and hope despite the destruction around them. 

And it’s the second historical fiction audiobook I’ve listened to in a row! #KHTreads #bookstagram #booklover #audiobooks #Audible #KindleUnlimited #historicalfiction
I became a mom because three other women sacrifice I became a mom because three other women sacrificed, chose life, and chose me to. Motherhood is sanctifying, unexpected, adventurous, and constant. It’s also among the greatest joys in my life. 

A low-key Mother’s Day that included church and felt like summer was exactly what my soul needed. Don’t worry, my eldest was around too but she had to work on homework and then at her job. 

#mothersday #adoption #momlife #adoptionislove #PeaceInTheProcess #reallife #weekending #poolpeople #summerisbest #favoritethings #choosingJOY #boymom #girlmom #bettertogether
This second novel by @carleyfortune speaks right t This second novel by @carleyfortune speaks right to my summer-loving heart. I loved Will and Fern’s love story, appreciated the depths of some of their experiences, and enjoyed the happy ending. Put this one one your summer reading list! 

#KHTreads #bookstagram #booklover #newrelease #KindleOasis #kindlebooks #romancenovels #latergram #summerisbest
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Favorites

Categories

Archives

Copyright © 2023 Kristin Hill Taylor | Design by Traci Michele | Development by MRM